The overall objective of the programme is to promote inclusive and sustainable development through international trade. It offers analysis and advice and seeks to build consensus, strengthen capacity and promote partnerships for trade policy, trade negotiations, trade in goods and services, competition law and consumer protection, and managing issues arising at the intersection of trade, the environment and climate change.

Research and trends in the global economy indicate that developing countries cannot develop without expanding and deepening their services sectors - spheres of economic activity that range from energy, to telecommunications, to such knowledge- and skills-based work as engineering and computer programming.